Frequently Asked Questions

We work with international retailers, boutiques, wholesalers and distributors who want direct access to Italian fashion supply or want to create their own private label collections. Each collaboration starts with an interview where we assess budget, style and goals, so we can dedicate our time to businesses that are ready to buy or produce.

We act as your buyer in Italy. It starts with a free interview about your store, budget and style. We then scout the suppliers that fit you, and in a live video session our buyer walks you through their showrooms in Prato while you choose. Everything you buy from different suppliers is consolidated into one invoice and one shipment.

No. The entire buying session happens remotely via video call. Our buyer is physically in the showroom while you shop from your office, your boutique or wherever you are. Clients in the US, Australia, Northern Europe and the Middle East buy without ever travelling to Italy.

Our office is at Via Giovanni da Cascia 27, 50127 Florence, and we work in the Prato and Florence wholesale district. We are a sourcing agency, not a showroom: meetings and visits are by appointment only. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00, Italian time. We sometimes reply outside these hours, but replies outside office hours are a courtesy, not part of the service.

Our team speaks English, Italian and Russian. If you prefer another language, write to us in your own: we use AI translation tools to understand you and reply, so language is never a barrier to working together.

Our district is mainly about womenswear, together with bags and accessories. There is some menswear, and some childrenswear, especially for production orders. We do not source footwear at the moment, and we do not supply designer or branded goods, stock lots, outlet merchandise or second-hand clothing.

No, and it is a deliberate choice. Prato has thousands of suppliers and their stock changes every week, so a catalogue would be out of date the day it is sent. We select collections for each client based on style, market and budget, and you see them live during your session.

Before your session we research suppliers for your style, budget and product category. Once we have confirmed there are strong options for you, we share photos and previews in our pre-session briefing. We don't show supplier collections publicly or before an appointment is confirmed, to protect the exclusive access of the clients who work with us. During the live session you see everything in real time: our buyer is at the warehouse, showing garments on the rack, checking fabrics and answering your questions.

A moodboard is not required. Any visual reference helps: your boutique's Instagram, your website, photos of pieces you like or links to styles that inspire you. The goal is to give us a clear picture of your aesthetic before we go scouting.

Many ready-to-wear styles, especially linen and silk, come in one size or in a short size range, depending on the supplier. We check sizes with you during the session. If you need a full size range or specific measurements, private label production lets us adapt or add sizes.

Availability depends on each supplier's current supply. Sometimes we arrive at the start of a new delivery, with a wide choice of styles, colours and sizes; other times towards the end of a cycle, with more limited quantities. For this reason stock cannot be guaranteed in advance: we verify real availability with the suppliers during your session.

No. There is no minimum purchase per online session, so you can select only what truly fits your needs. A minimum commission of €250 applies to each order, even when the session runs over more than one day. Individual suppliers may apply their own minimums, typically €300 to €500 per warehouse and 2 to 12 pieces per style, or a full pack where applicable.

Each vendor sets its own minimum, usually €300 to €500 per warehouse and 2 to 12 pieces per style. If a minimum is above what you had in mind, we tell you before you commit and, where possible, suggest an alternative vendor that fits your budget for that item.

Yes. There is no minimum order for online sessions, so a first order can be small. Keep in mind the €250 minimum commission and each supplier's own minimum: with a few thousand euros you can usually cover several suppliers and get a meaningful first assortment.

10% of the confirmed purchase value, with a minimum of €250 per order, even if the order is placed over several days. It covers supplier scouting, the purchasing session, collection and packing of the goods, and all export documentation. Shipping is quoted separately.

Sessions are held by video call on WhatsApp, Zoom or another agreed platform. Before the session we prepare a shortlist of vendors and collections based on your interview. During the call you review products in real time and confirm your orders, and we consolidate everything into one invoice and one shipment.

Yes, and it is one of the main advantages. A single session can cover three, four or more pre-selected suppliers. Everything you buy is consolidated into one order and one shipment.

It depends on how many suppliers are involved and on your pace. Sessions usually last several hours and can extend through a full working day. You decide when you have found what you need.

Yes. A session is built around one working day. If your range is broad or you want to cover more vendors, we can decide together to extend it across additional days. The minimum commission of €250 applies to the order as a whole, not to each day.

We run sessions with buyers in every time zone and set the start time around your working hours. During your interview we agree a slot that works for both sides.

Sometimes, but not always. Vendors pack orders right after the session, so once packing has started an addition may no longer be possible. If you want more, tell us as soon as the session closes and we will check with the vendor right away.

Ready-to-buy orders move quickly. Once we understand your needs and have selected the suppliers, we can often organise the session and manage the order within 24 to 48 hours, depending on our agenda and your availability for the call.

Book your initial interview. It is free, takes about 30 minutes and has no commitment. We talk about your business, your needs and whether this partnership is the right fit for both sides.

Always through us. You never deal with individual vendors or juggle multiple payments. We consolidate every purchase into one invoice, you pay us once, and we settle with the suppliers.

Our Terms allow up to five days from the pro forma invoice, but we recommend paying as soon as possible. Italian ready-to-wear is a fast-moving market: most suppliers don't like to hold stock for long, and some require payment on the same day. Paying quickly protects your selection from being sold to someone else.

Bank transfer, credit card, Wise or PayPal. All orders are fully prepaid before dispatch, and bank, card or PayPal fees are at the client's charge. On a first order we may ask for a deposit.

We do. All customs documentation, export paperwork and logistics are managed by our team. You receive one consolidated shipment with a single invoice, and we follow your order until delivery.

Shipping is quoted once the goods are collected and packed, based on their volumetric weight and destination. As a rough reference, shipping within Europe costs a few euros per kilo, while North America, Australia and other long-haul destinations cost around €9 per kilo. You receive the exact quote in writing and pay it before the parcels leave Italy.

We ship worldwide with UPS and DHL, under DAP terms. You can also use your own licensed courier, subject to our approval.

If your shipping payment reaches us between Monday morning and Friday morning, the goods leave within 24 hours, very often on the same day. Delivery then takes up to five working days, unless customs causes delays, and is often faster.

Import duties and local taxes in the destination country are at the client's charge. EU businesses with a valid VAT number are invoiced without Italian VAT. Private individuals and EU clients without a VAT number pay Italian VAT.

You can start from your own design or from an existing garment sample. We develop prototypes, ship samples for your approval and, once they are validated, supervise full production with quality checks at different stages. We can also provide branded labels, swing tags and individual packaging. The whole process is managed in Italy.

Yes. The minimum order value is €3,000, with at least 100 pieces per model. Manufacturers may apply specific minimums per style, line or material depending on the complexity of the production.

We produce and ship samples for your approval before anything goes into production. Production only starts once you confirm in writing. Sample costs are quoted separately and are deductible from the full order if you confirm it.

You can start from your own design files or from an existing garment you want us to replicate or adapt. The clearer the reference, the closer the result. We tell you upfront if a specification needs adjusting to work with Italian production.

Pronto moda production works to tolerances of around half a centimetre, not to the millimetre. If you send measurements, give them in half-centimetre steps. For orders where exact sizing is critical, we recommend piece-by-piece inspection at an additional cost.

Yes. Branded labels, tags and packaging are part of the private label service. Irregularly shaped woven labels are applied during production, not afterwards, so tell us your labelling plan early.

In many cases, yes. Some suppliers allow their label to be replaced with yours on ready-made styles, others do not, so every garment leaves with either the supplier's label or yours. Tell us during the interview and we will select suppliers who accept it. Labels and swing tags can be produced by us or sent by you.

Research, development and prototyping are quoted separately, paid in advance and non-refundable, because the work is done specifically for you. Sample costs, by contrast, are deductible from the full production value if you confirm the order.

We prepare every visit in advance, selecting the right showrooms for you, so we ask for at least ten days' notice.

Plan for at least one full working day, which is the minimum. If you want to cover a wide range or several categories, two or three days give you a calmer pace and more vendors. We help you decide the right length during your interview.

No. Transport is included: we collect you and drive you between vendors throughout the day. The district is spread out and hard to navigate alone, so having transport and introductions handled is a large part of the service.

The first day is €250 and is paid in advance to confirm the booking. If you place a significant order on the first day, each additional day is €125. Our standard 10% commission applies to the orders you place.

You can cancel up to five days before the visit. With less than five days' notice, the €250 paid in advance is not refunded.

Yes. We can help you organise your trip and your accommodation, and, if you meet the requirements, provide the documents you need to apply for a visa.

The first day of your visit is paid in advance to confirm it. On a first order, we may also ask for a deposit on the goods.

A sourcing day is a buying appointment, and we expect it to end with an order. The whole day is organised for that: we take you to the right showrooms, and if at first your expectations and ours are not aligned, we work with you until we find what fits your store.

Visits are generally for buying. For clients planning a production order, an exploratory visit is possible, after a preliminary assessment of the project.

Yes. Throughout the visit our buyer gives you all the advice you need to buy well: what sells, the right quantities and the right price levels for your market.

Quality and quality control always depend on the price range and market segment of the products. For low-cost ready-to-wear, quality control is done on a sampling basis, to catch major or visible issues outside the accepted tolerances for that price level. As price and production value increase, quality standards and controls become more detailed. A full piece-by-piece inspection can always be arranged at an additional cost.

We use AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit), the international standard for checking a batch of garments by sampling, defined by ISO 2859-1. Instead of judging an order by a single piece, a set number of pieces is inspected according to the size of the order, and the batch is accepted or not depending on how many defects are found.

Defects fall into three groups:

• Critical: a defect that makes the garment unsafe or illegal to sell, for example a sharp metal part or a missing mandatory label.
• Major: a defect a customer would notice and that makes the garment hard to sell, for example a hole, a broken zip, a seam that opens, or a colour clearly different from the one ordered.
• Minor: a small flaw that does not stop the garment being sold, for example a loose thread, a slight irregularity in a stitch, or shade variations between pieces of the same colour, which are normal in garment-dyed and natural fabrics.

Send us an email within five working days of receiving the goods, with photos of each defective piece. We assess the claim against the AQL limits and handle it directly with the supplier. Only the defective pieces are covered, not the whole order.